Printing plate beveling machine



July 6, 1937. HUCK 2,085,908

PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet lFIG.I.

INVENTOR.

July 6, 1937. w; F. HUCK PRINTING BLATE BEVELING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 5, 1932 INV ENTOR." 52 a; '4 Z ZA Q July ,1 w. F. HUCK2,085,908

PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHXNE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3ENVENTOR.

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PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n;y//// rm- O T I I I v BNVENTOR.

.Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATEBEVELING MACHINE Application November 5, 1932, Serial No. 641,442

29 Claims.

This invention relates to printing plate trimming machines having forits object the provision of an improved machine of the kind indicatedthat will permit a more convenient and expeditious trimming and bevelingof printing plates.

Another object is to provide a novel trimming and beveling machine forprinting plates particularly designed and adapted to simultaneously trimand/or bevel the edges on two of the curved sides or ends of a printingplate and then simultaneously trim and/or bevel the two straight edgesof the said printing plate in a continuous sequence without manualattention.

Another object is to provide a novel combination of adjustable means ina printing plate trimming machine for variably trimming and beveling theedges of a printing machine on two sides or ends at once.

Another object is the provision of novel pressure means for retaining aprinting plate on a plate trimming and beveling machine so that all foursides or edges of the said plate may be trimmed or beveled-withoutremoval from the r machine.

A further object is a novel combination and coordination of platetrimming and beveling means with atmospheric pressure actuated means forsimultaneously trimming and beveling the two curved edges of a printingplate and then in un- 30 broken sequence simultaneously trimming andbeveling the two straight edges of the printing plate.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- Br vide a printing platetrimming machine of generally improved construction, whereby the devicewill be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well asconvenient, practical, serviceable and efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

45 The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is. an end elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device, partly in section,with parts broken away, as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device, partly 55 in section, withthe printing plate removed, as

seen in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, as seen onthe line and in the direction of the arrow 4 of Figure 2.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the several views of the preferred form of theinvention, the numeral l indicates generally the frame of the devicewhich is suitably supported on standards or pedestals H and braced bythe members 12. In the upper portion of the frame ID, a rock shaft I3 issecured on which a printing plate supporting member or table I4 isfastened by supporting members or arms, hereinafter described, throughwhich the shaft l3 extends. A gear segment |5 is secured or keyed to thesaid shaft l3, one portion of the said gear segment having a planesurface adapted to abut against or be engaged by the end of anadjustable stop or pin l6 threaded into the frame Ill. The hub of thegear segment also has fastened thereto by a screw I! one end of a chainor flexible strip [8 which passes over a sheave or pulley I 9, the otherend of the chain l8 being secured to a spring 2| which is fastened at alower end to a link 22 adjustably secured to the frame Ill and adaptedto vary the tension of the spring 2| to the desired degree in order toreturn the rock table I4 on which the printing plate P is secured. tonormal vertical position.

The gear segment i5 engages a gear segment 23 formed on a lever or arm24 rockably or turnably mounted on a stud 25 secured to the frame ID,the lever 24 having a roller 26 securedthereto (as best shown inFigure 1) which is engaged with a cam 21 in order to rock the lever 24and consequently the printing plate supporting table M for a purposehereinafter set forth.

The cam 21 is fastened to a shaft 28 which is rotatably supported in aportion of the frame in and in a casing 3| secured to the same frame.Arranged within the casing 3| and keyed to the shaft 28 is a worm wheel32 which is engaged by a Worm 33, secured to or forming apart of a shaft34, rotatably mounted in the casing 3| and having at one end a sprocket35 which is operatively connected by a chain 36 to another sprocket 31forming a part of conventional gear reduction means housed Within thecasing of a motor 38 serving as the source of power for moving orsliding the motor-driven cutting assemblies which cut or bevel thestraight edges of 'the printing plate to be operated upon, ashereinafter set forth.

The cam 21 is'also engaged with a roller 39 rotatably secured to an arm4| rotatably mounted on a shaft 42 journaled in the front framing l0,and otherwise held by a bracket 40, secured to one of the members |2. Amitre gear 43 is fastened upon the shaft 42, the said gear 43 meshingwith a similar mitre gear 44 keyed on a shaft 45 rotatably supported inthe lower portion of the frame II]. To the ends of the lastmentionedshaft 45, arms 46, 46' having yokes 41 in each of which latter, blocks48 are slidably secured, the said blocks 48 being in turn secured toplatform-supporting brackets 49, 43' which are slidably mounted onopposed pairs of bars or shafts 5|land 5| respectively arranged onopposite sides of the frame l0.

Each of the platforms secured to the brackets 49 and 49 has mountedthereon an electric motor 52 and 52' respectively. Each motor isprovided with a cutter or saw 53 which is adapted to engage andbevelingly cut one of the straight sides of the curved printing plate Pwhich is secured to the rock table [4 by atmospheric pressure actuatedor vacuum-controlled means constituting another important feature of thepresent invention, which will now be described.

The top of the said rock table I4 is provided with openings as at 54with which communicates a channel or passageway 55 provided in one ofthe supporting arms of the table M. The channel 55 communicates throughthe connecting pipes 56, 51 and 58 with vacuum-creating means (notshown) when the control handle 59, of a valve connected to pipe 58 andshown generally at 60,

is turned to operating position, the pipe 51 being of a flexible natureto allow for the movement of the plate supporting table l4.

The rock table I4 is also preferably provided with the pins or studs Mwhich latter are adapted to be received in small holes (not shown) thatmay be formed in printing plates in order to quickly and accuratelylocate or register the said printing plates on the rock table l4 andprevent any slippage of same while being trimmed and beveled therein.

Each of the lever arms 46, 46 has secured thereto, in any suitablemanner, as by a poppet 6|, (see Figure 4) one end of a spring 62, 62'designated respectively; the other ends of which are also fastened topoppets 63, arranged on the framing Ill. The pair of springs 62, 62'serve to return the motor supports 49, 49 to the normal operatingposition shown in Figure 2.

As hereinafter described, a limit switch of conventional designindicated at 64 has an operating arm 65 which engages with an arm 66secured on the shaft 28. When the machine has completed its cycle ofoperations, this limit switch operates to de-energize the severalelectric motors. The electrical circuits are not shown as such circuitsare well-known to those versed in the art.

The curved edges of the printing plate P which preferably are operatedupon before the straight edges thereof, are trimmed or beveled by a pairof cutters or saws 61, 61' secured to a shaft 66 rotatably supported inbearings 69, 69, formed on a yoke member 10, fastened to any convenientpart of the framing Ill. On one end of the shaft 68, a sheave 1| issecured which is operatively connected to another sheave 12 by belts 13.The last-mentioned sheave 12 is keyed to the shaft of a motor 14 whichserves to rotate the cutters 61, 61'. As mentioned above, the limitswitch 64, is adapted to simultaneously ole-energize all or a part ofthe motors employed in the normal operation of the machine; i. e., themotors 38, 52, 52'

and 14 so that the device may be put into immediate operation by asingle push-button, and automatically brought to a stop by the limitswitch 64, after each plate trimming operation, or one completerevolution of the cam 21, which causes the alternate rocking of thelever arms 24 and 4| and the respective consequent alternate and rockingof the plate holder l4 carrying the printing plate P thereby engagingsame with the cutters 61, 61' or the movement or travel of the revolvingcutters 53.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a suitable guard 16 to prevent shavings,etc. from getting into the driving units may be secured to anyconvenient portion of the frame It).

It is tobe observed that the combination and coordination of theatmospheric pressure actuated or vacuum-controlled means with thetrimming and beveling instrumentalities make possible, in a mostconvenient form the trimming and beveling simultaneously of two curvededges of a printing plate and the trimming and beveling simultaneouslyof the two straight edges of the same printing plate. Were it not forthe coaction of vacuum-controlled means with the pins l4 whereby thesaid plate is firmly held in accurate register on the rock table withoutthe aid of clamping fingers or rollers, it would be necessary to devisemechanism which would retain the printing plate to the rock table whiletwo of its edges were being trimmed, and then automatically release itsgrip in order to permit the other two edges of the same plate to beacted upon simultaneously.

The function and general manner of operation of the device have been inlarge measure indicated by the foregoing details but will be more fullyunderstood from the following brief description.

Assuming the smooth side of a printing plate P has been placed on therockable table I4 and the control handle 59 has been turned to evacuateair from the pipes 56, 51 and 58, thus clamping the said printing plateto the perforated top 54 of the said rock table by atmospheric pressure,and further assuming all the motors have been energized by a suitablecontroller (not shown). The motor 38 by the chain connected sprockets35, 31, worm 33, worm wheel 32, and shaft 28 will rotate the cam 21 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, consequently, firstthrusting the long lever arm 24 to the left, thereby progressivelyrocking the table M to the right, as viewed in Figure l, and thussubjecting the plate P to the action of the cutters or saws 61, '61which are now being rotated by motor 14, for simultaneously trimming andfor beveling the curved edges of two sides of the said plate P. Thefirst degrees of rotation of the cam 21 from the position shown inFigure 1 will swing or rock the plate-supporting table I4, sufficientlyto effect the complete trimming of the two curved edges of the plate P,while the second 90 degrees of rotation of the said cam will cause thereturn of the arm 24 and the table l4 to normal vertical position.

I'he short lever arm 4| meanwhile will remain in fixed verticalposition'until the cam 21 has swept around approximately from theposition shown in Figure 1, by which time the curved edges of theprinting plate will have been trimmed and the rock table l4 turned toits original position. Further movement of the cam 21 will nowprogressively thrust the lever arm 4| to the right, thereby turning thegear 43 which meshes with gear 44 on shaft 45 and consequently anglingthe arms 46, 46' to slide the motor operated cutters against the twostraight edges of the printing plate P.

After the cam 21 has covered the third 90 of travel, the said straightedges will have trimmed, while the fourth 90 of travel of the cam willreturn the arms 46, 46 to the normal position shown in Figure 2, the arm65 of the limit switch 64 mentioned above, as it engages the finger 66on shaft 28, now bringing all or a part of the motors of the device to astop and in position to again go through the same cycle of operations.The machine is now in condition to be again operated by the push buttonalluded to above.

It is to be noted that the operating cycle of the machine issubstantially automatic in that no manual attention is required, afterthe controller or switch (not shown) is initially actuated for theenergization of the electric motors. After the curved edges of theprinting plate are trimmed and the rock table 14 supporting same hasbeen .returned to its original position through the instrumentality ofthe continuously rotating cam (21) the latter will next swing the arm 4|which through the elements mentioned above, will slide the motor drivencutters 53 against the straight longitudinal edges of the printing platewhich are trimmed thereby. Both the curved edges and the straight edgesof the printing plate are therefore trimmed in one rotation of the cam2'|,'while the rock table i4 is meanwhile rocked through 90 and returnedto its original position. In short, therefore, after a printing platehas been placed upon a rock table l4 and the air evacuated from thepipes 51, 58 enumerated above and in the manner described, the operator,upon actuating the above-mentioned switch mechanism (not shown) willpermit the device to perform the double function of first trimming thecurved edges of the printing plate, and subsequently, trimming thestraight edges of the plate in an unbroken sequence,the cutting elementsand the rock table being finally returned to their original positionsready for the reception of another plate without any manual attentionwhatsoever in the meantime.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being had to the appended claims rather than'to the foregoingdescription to indicate the scope of the invention.

The function may be interchanged so that the table moves in a straightline and the cutters are rocked or swung around the curved edges of theplate, or that the table remains stationary and both cutting meanssuccessively trim a pair of opposite edges of plate, or that all cuttingmeans are stationary and-the table in succession rotates for trimmingthe curved edges and slides (straight) for trimming the straight edges.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, a.support for the plate, cutters, a single cam for rocking the support tosubject the said plate to the action of said cutters for simultaneouslytrimming the curved edges of the plate when the support is rocked, ways,and other cutting means slidably arranged on said ways and adapted tosimultaneously trim the straight edges of. the plate, said cutters andother cutting means being actuated while the said cam is making onecycle.

2. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, asupport for the plate. cam 'means for rocking the support to engage theplate with cutters for trimming curved edges of said plate, motor drivencutters for trimming straight edges of the plate after said curved edgeshave been trimmed, said motorv driven cutters being actuated by said cammeans subsequently to the trimming of the curved edges of the plate bythe cutters and in an unbroken sequence of operations without manualattention.

3. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, powerdriven means, a support for the plate, a single cam for rocking thesupport to trim first the curved edges of the plate and subsequentlysliding the power driven means for trimming the straight edges of thesaid plate, and means including a switch for bringing said machine to astop after the said curved and straight edges have been trimmed.

4. Ina device of the character described the combination of means forsimultaneously trimming two edges of a curved printing plate, othermeans for trimming two straight edges of the said plate, a support withmeans for operatively retaining the plate on said support while beingtrimmed, said last-mentioned means being actuated by atmosphericpressure, said first mentioned means being actuated through a singledriven cam, and power operated means for operating said cam.

5. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, thecombination of a support for the plate, cam-actuated means forsimultaneously trimming the curved edges of the plate and then trimmingthe straight edges of the plate, with vacuum-controlled means foroperatively holding the said plate while being trimmed, said firstmentioned means including cutting means for the said curved edgesandseparate cutting means for the straight edges.

6. In a printing plate trimming machine of the character described, thecombination of means operative for simultaneously trimming two' curvededges of a printing plate, other means operative to simultaneously trimtwo straight edges of said printing plate, means for automaticallybringing said machine to a stop after the said curved and straight edgesof the printing plate have been trimmed, a single cam coactable withboth of said first mentioned means for effecting the operation of samein a timed sequence.

7. In a printing machine of the character described, a frame, a printingplate supporting table rockably mounted on said frame, cuttinginstrumentalities, a single cam effective during 180 of its rotation forcausing the engagement of the said cutting instrumentalities with twostraight edges of a printing plate secured on said table, and othercutting instrumentalities; said cam first rocking said table to bringsaid printing plate into engagement with said last mentionedinstrumentalities for trimming two curved edges of the plate.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, a table movablymounted on said frame and having means for supporting printing platesthereon, cutting instrumentalities, and cam means for rocking said tableto subject said plate to said cutting means, said cutting meansincluding instrumentalities made effective during 180 rotation of thecam means for first trimming the two curvedi edges of said printingplates and effective in the next 180 rotation of the cam means fortrimming: the straightedges of said plate.

9. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a frame, a cutting instrumentality mounted on said frame,a cam, a printing plate supporting table rockably mounted on said frame,resilient means for normally maintaining said table in upright position,and means operated by said cam for applying said cutting instrumentalitysimultaneously to two edges of a plate mounted on said table, a secondcutting instrumentality, said cam serving to rock said table againstsaid second cutting instrumentality for simultaneously trimming twoother edges of the plate.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame, a printing platesupporting table movably mounted on said frame and adapted to retain aprinting plate thereon, a plurality of cutting means slidably mounted onthe frame and engageable with said printing plate for cutting straightedges of same, a plurality of other cutting means secured to a shaftrotatably mounted in the frame and engageable with the said printingplate when the table is moved for trimming curved edges of the plate,and a single cam for moving all of said means in a timed sequence toengage the cutting instrumentalities for successively trimming thecurved and straight edges of said plate.

11. In a device of'the character described, the combination of a frame,a plate supporting member rockably mounted on said frame and adapted tosupport a plate having curved and straight edges, plate cutting meansfastened to said frame and adapted to trim the curved edges of saidplate when said support is rocked, other cutting means slidably mountedon said frame for cutting the straight edges of the plate, a single cammounted on the frame, and power driven means for actuating said cam, allof said cutting means being made effective in timed sequence by saidcam.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame,a plate supporting member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted tosupport a plate having curved and straight edges, means for maintainingsaid supporting member in normal raised position for receiving a platepreparatory to operating upon same, plate cutting means rotatablymounted on the frame and adapted to trim the curved edges of said platewhen the support is rocked, other cutting means slidably mounted on theframe for cutting the curved edges of the plate, and a single camrotatably mounted on the frame, said cam being effective for actuatingall of said cutting means in timed sequence.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the plate supportingmeans is maintained in normal plate-receiving position by resilientinstrumentalities,

14. In a machine for trimming the curved and straight edges of aprinting plate, a support for the plate, a plurality of cutting meanseffective for trimming the said curved and straight edges of the plate,and atmospheric pressure controlled means effective for operativelyholding said plate to the support while the said curved and straightedges are being'trimmed and when said support is being moved, withoutinterfering with the operation of the cutting means or the moving of thetable.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platesupport, an actuating cam,

first and second rollers arranged on opposite sides of the cam, a rockshaft, said first roller being connected to said rock shaft and adaptedto swing the plate support, a second rock shaft, the second roller beingconnected to said second rock shaft, and cutting means, said second rockshaft being arranged to move said cutting means lengthwise of the plate.

16. An arrangement as specified in claim 15 wherein a printing plate issecured to the plate support by vacuum controlled means.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platesupport, a shaft having an actuating cam, a first roller engaging thecam,

a rock shaft connected to the first roller and arranged to rock theplate support, a second roller engaging the cam, a cutter, and a secondrock shaft connected to the second roller and adapted to move saidcutter lengthwise of the plate.

18. An arrangement as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said rockshafts is provided with a roller, said cam engaging each of saidrollers.

19. The combination described in claim 17 wherein vacuum controlledmeans are employed for operatively securing a plate on the plate supportwhile said plate support is moving and the plate is being trimmed.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platesupport, a cam, a pair of means engaged with different portions of thecam, one of said means being connected to the said plate support andadapted to swing the same, a rock shaft, the other of said means beingconnected to said rock shaft and adapted to swing the latter, andcutting instrumentalities, said rock shaft being connected to saidcutting instrumentalities.

21. An arrangement as set forth in claim 20 having vacuum controlledmeans for operatively retaining a printing plate on said plate supportwhile the plate support is moving and the printing plate is beingtrimmed.

22. In a machine for trimming printing plates having two straight andtwo curved edges, a support engaging one side of the plate and adaptedto secure it thereto by engagement with its under surface when pressureis applied to the upper surface, a pair of cutters for trimming thestraight edges of the plate, a separate motor fastened directly to eachof said cutters, a second pair of cutters for trimming the curved edgesof the plate, and means effective to make each of said pair of cuttersoperative in sequence to trim the curved edges of the plate and then thestraight edges of the plate.

23. In a machine for trimming the edges of a printing plate, a supportfor the plate, means engaging one side of the plate for securing it tothe support when pressure is applied to the other side so that saidplate will be immovably held to the support while all of its edges arebeing trimmed, motor driven cutters adapted to trim two opposite edgesof the plate, other motor driven cutters for trimming two other oppositeedges of the plate, said last mentioned cutters being directly connectedto the shafts of a pair of motors and control means to insure that oneset of said motor driven cutters is in operation to trim the plate whenthe other set is not.

24. In a machine for trimming the four edges of a printing plate, asupport adapted to engage one side of the plate for operatively securingit thereto when pressure is applied to the other side, a pair of rotarycutters adapted to be bodily moved into engagement with two oppositeedges of the plate, a pair of motors, each having a shaft directlyfastened to one of said cutters; a second pair of cutters, a shaftwhereon both, of said last mentioned cutters are fastened, a motoroperatively connected to said last mentioned shaft, and an additionalmotor for rocking said support; whereby the curved edges of the printingplate may first be trimmed, and then the straight edges thereof.

25. In a device for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, asupport on which one side of the plate rests, said plate being retainedon the support by pressure on its opposite side, a pair of individualcutters for trimming the straight edges of the plate, each of saidcutters being directly fastened to one of a pair of motors, means forsliding each motor and its cutter relatively to the plate in order totrim the straight edges of the plate, a second pair of cutters adaptedto cut the curved edges of the plate, and means for swinging the supportto subject the curved edges of the plate to the last mentioned cutters.

26. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support, atmosphericallyactuated means to hol a plate onto said support, rotary cutting meantfor simultaneously cutting two sides of a plate, rotary cutting meansfor simultaneously cutting two other sides of the plate, and commontiming means operable to control the operation of both of said cuttingmeans, and insure successive cutting operations of, first one and thenthe other cutting means.

27. In a machine trimming the four edges of a rectangular printingplate, the combination of a support for the plate to which the saidplate is immovably held, cutting means for first trimming two oppositeedges of the plate, other cutting means for subsequently trimming theother opposite edges of the plate, and means effective to make each ofsaid cutting means operative in thesequence indicated, whereby the platewill be fixed to the support while each of the said cutting means are inoperation.

28. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support to which a plateis immovably held, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting twosides of the plate, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting twoother sides of the plate, and

common timing means efiective to make each of said cutting meansoperative to insure successive cutting operations of first one and thenthe other cutting means.

29. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support to which a plateis immovably held, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting twosides of the plate, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting twoother sides of the plate, common timing means effective to makeoperative each of said cutting means in sequence to insure successivecutting operations of, first one and then the other cutting means, andcommon means to stop further operations of both cutting means after theyhave been actuated.

WILLIAM F. HUCK.

